Pennsylvania Supreme Court Control at Stake in Upcoming Elections

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA (AP) — A pivotal election looms in Pennsylvania as voters prepare to decide the composition of the state’s highest judicial bodies. The upcoming election will not only shape the Pennsylvania Supreme Court but also feature significant municipal races in cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

On November 4, the state’s Supreme Court Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht, all Democrats, will face a retention election. This process allows voters to determine whether these justices will continue serving on the court for another 10-year term. However, Justice Donohue must retire in 2027 due to age restrictions. Although retention elections in Pennsylvania are typically uneventful, this year’s elections have taken on a more partisan tone.

Currently, Democrats hold a 5-2 lead in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. However, the Republican Party is actively campaigning to remove Justices Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht. Should any of the justices fail to secure retention, Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro would have the authority to appoint a temporary successor, with the appointment subject to confirmation by the Republican-led state Senate. A failure to confirm could lead to a 2-2 stalemate on the court if all three justices are unseated. Elections to fill these positions for full terms would occur in 2027.

The most recent retention election for the state Supreme Court took place in 2017. In that election, a Republican justice was retained with 68% support, while a Democratic justice received 71% approval.

Voters will also cast ballots for positions on other state courts, such as the Superior Court and Commonwealth Court, the latter being the two appellate courts below the Supreme Court.

In Pittsburgh’s mayoral race, Democratic Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor is up against Republican Tony Moreno. O’Connor, who previously served on the Pittsburgh City Council, emerged victorious over outgoing Democratic Mayor Ed Gainey in the May primary. Moreno, a former police officer, previously lost to Gainey in the 2021 mayoral contest.

Philadelphia’s district attorney race sees Democrat Larry Krasner seeking a third term against Pat Dugan, a former Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge. Dugan resigned during his third term in 2024 to challenge Krasner for the Democratic nomination, which Krasner won. Subsequently, Dugan switched to the Republican Party to contest the general election.

Historically, Democrats have dominated general elections in both cities. In the 2021 Pittsburgh mayoral race, Gainey secured approximately 71% of the vote against Moreno. Similarly, Krasner clinched his second term as Philadelphia’s district attorney in 2021 with around 72% of the vote.

The Associated Press will announce a winner only when it is certain that the trailing candidates cannot overcome the deficit. If a race remains undecided, the AP will continue reporting on significant developments, such as candidate concessions or victory claims, while clarifying the status of its projections.

Pennsylvania law mandates an automatic recount for statewide races if the margin is within 0.5 percentage points. For non-statewide races, recounts can be requested through county election boards or the courts. The AP may declare a winner in tight races if the lead appears insurmountable.

When do polls close?

Polls will close at 8 p.m. ET.

What’s on the ballot?

Voters will decide on retention elections for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Superior Court, and Commonwealth Court, as well as general elections for the Superior Court, Commonwealth Court, and key municipal positions such as Pittsburgh mayor and Philadelphia district attorney.

Who can vote?

All registered voters in Pennsylvania can participate in the state’s general elections. Those registered in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh are also eligible to vote in their respective municipal elections.

Turnout and early voting insights

As of October 6, Pennsylvania had about 3.8 million registered Democrats and 3.6 million registered Republicans. In Allegheny County, Democrats make up nearly 55% of the 912,000 registered voters, while Republicans account for about 29%. In Philadelphia, the numbers show about 72% Democrats and 12% Republicans among the 1.1 million registered voters.

In the 2021 general election for Pittsburgh mayor, nearly 71,000 people voted, representing about 31% of registered voters, with mail ballots accounting for about 35% of the total. In Philadelphia’s 2021 municipal election, approximately 230,000 votes were cast, about 22% of registered voters, with mail-in votes representing around 32%.

The 2023 state Supreme Court general election saw around 3.1 million votes, roughly 36% of registered voters, with mail ballots making up about 26% of the total.

By Monday, over 571,000 of the 1.1 million absentee ballots requested statewide had been returned, with Democrats accounting for about 67% and Republicans about 25%. For the latest updates, check the AP Early Vote Tracker.

In Pittsburgh, over 15,000 votes had been cast before Election Day as of October 10, with Democrats comprising about 87% and Republicans about 8%.

Vote counting timeline

During the 2024 presidential election, results from Pennsylvania were first reported at 8 p.m. ET in Allegheny County, coinciding with poll closures. Philadelphia’s first results came in at 8:08 p.m. ET. By noon the following day, about 97% of the statewide vote was counted.

Vote counting paused in Allegheny County at 12:08 a.m. ET with approximately 97% of votes tallied, while in Philadelphia, it paused at 1:56 a.m. ET with about 93% counted.